Roads closed after crashes on ice

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "Sussex Police have now re-opened the A27 from Falmer to Polegate after it was closed early this morning due to black ice and several crashes.

"But the A23 at Warninglid has now been closed due to an road traffic crash along with the A24 at Washington.

"The message is not to travel unless essential or to delay your journey until later on today when the weather and road conditions are expected to improve. Despite the A27 at Falmer being re-opened traffic queues remain heavy."

Brighton and Hove City Council appealed for patience from residents while it worked to tackle the ice.

A council spokesman said: "Overnight rain followed by freezing temperatures has created slippery conditions which is affecting traffic. The council is urging motorists to check weather reports and drive safely.

"Bus services are affected in Patcham, Moulsecoomb Way, Meadowview and Rotherfield Crescent. The council is sending out gritters, which have been Moulsecoomb and Patcham since dawn, but it will take time to get to all.

"Refuse and recycling staff in those areas are prioritising pavement clearance and street sweepers and gardeners are also out gritting pavements in outlying areas still affected by snow and ice

"There will be some delays to refuse and recycling collections due to the black ice. The council is appealing for patience from residents.

"Household waste and recycling sites in Wilson Avenue, Brighton, and Leighton Road, Hove, are open and will be every day over Christmas except bank holidays

"The temperature is climbing, and is now above zero, so we expect a mild day which should disperse the ice. Salt sensors are showing maximum salt down on the roads. Services will return to normal as soon as this happens."

Emergency services across Sussex were called to several weather related collisions this morning.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said several main roads were closed because of the icy conditions.

The A26 is closed eastbound between Lewes and Uckfield and the A27 westbound between Lewes and Falmer.

The road is also shut between The Drove, Newhaven, and the Polegate bypass.

The A26 is shut at Beddingham north.

Roads around Devils Dyke are also believed to be impassable.

The A24 is closed both directions between Washington and Ashington.

The A23 is closed in Bolney at the A271 Cowfold junction, following an accident involving several cars.

Fire crews said they were called to an accident in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, this morning, but were unable to reach the scene of the crash because of treacherous road conditions on the estate.

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "We have been very busy over night dealing with several road traffic collisions. "Luckily non of them have been particularly serious, but we have had a very busy time.

"There have been about five collisions in the last few hours, all because of the ice on the roads."

Moulsecoomb resident Sam Dawson, of Halland Road, said she had been woken by an accident outside her home just after 6am, but emergency services could not reach them.

She said: "It is completely gridlocked up here. There's so much ice the police can't even get through. "It's absolutely treacherous.

"There have already been two outside my house and four others on Moulsecoomb Way. The police had to abandon their cars and walk up to take the details.

"I was woken up by a big smash. This one chap had taken out three other cars as he skidded across the road. Another person came down the road and hit into another car. "They were both quite shaken up but lucking they were not hurt seriously."

Sussex Police said they had been experiencing an extremely high number of calls to their non-emergency phone number, from people reporting problems on the roads.

A spokesman said: "Several major roads were closed in the early hours including the A27 and A26. "It has been very busy and we are still very busy dealing with it."

Southern trains is also reporting disruptions to rail services across Sussex.

A message on Southerm's website said: "Train services on all routes are being disrupted due to poor weather conditions. "Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected."

Meanwhile, due to icy roads some Brighton and Hove Bus routes have been affected. The bus company is constantly checking roads and taking advice from Sussex Police in relation to road conditions.

Service 5/5A is operating a normal route from Hangleton to the bottom of Carden Avenue only.

Service 5B is operating normal route from Hangleton to Preston Circus, then following the 5/5A route to the bottom of Carden Avenue, and up to Asda along Carden Avenue.

Service 6 is operating as normal although it is unable to serve Bush Farm Drive.

Service 24 is unable to serve Coldean estate/Coldean Lane due to icy roads and a serious accident at Coldean Lane. This service will terminate at the bottom of The Avenue.

Service 25 is unable to go beyond The Avenue due to a serious accident near the bottom of Coldean Lane which has closed the road southbound.

Service 27/27A is operating from Saltdean to the top of Dyke Road Avenue/A27 roundabout.

Service 28/29 is not operating due to the A27 being closed at Lewes because of a serious accident at the Kingston roundabout and also an accident at Earwig Corner. The roads are also icy in Uckfield.

There is no 37/38 service.

Service 46 is running its normal route but avoiding Rotherfield Crescent and Cuckmere Way.

Service 49/49A is operating between the bottom of The Avenue and Portslade Station but is unable to serve Moulsecoomb or Lower Bevendean.

Service 50 is unable to serve Hollingdean, so is running to Lewes Road Sainsbury's via Ditchling Road and Upper Hollingdean Road.

Service 56 will operate from Asda into the city along Carden Avenue, London Road to Preston Circus, Imperial Arcade, then Old Shoreham Road to west Hove Sainsbury's. But is cannot reach the Knoll Estate.

Service 81/81B will operate as normal but will use the the whole length of Queens Park Road, not Queens Park Terrace or Down Terrace.